World Cup opening game proved a little tricky for people with colour blindness
Did you have a little trouble distinguishing between teams at the World Cup opener? You weren't alone.
During the opening game between Saudi Arabia and host country Russia on Thursday, people watching who have colour blindness complained on Twitter they had trouble identifying which team they were cheering for.
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Why? The teams wore red (Russia) and green (Saudi Arabia), two of the colours people with a type of colour vision deficiency (CVD) are unable to distinguish between.
More than a few people were upset.
Red vs Green to start the World Cup. Unfortunate for those who are color blind... cc: @UniWatch @PhilHecken pic.twitter.com/lTurOLjR99
— Shlomo Sprung (@SprungOnSports) June 14, 2018
Colourblind nightmare in the opening game. Can barely differentiate between the Saudi kits and pitch 😣 #WorldCupRussia2018 #bbcworldcup
— Ashley (@Ashley228Smith) June 14, 2018
Colour blind red/green. First game of the world cup and they're playing in red and green kits. Haven't got a clue what's going on here 🙈
— Richard Burke (@RicheyBurke86) June 14, 2018
As excited by the World Cup as I am, this opening fixture Red/Green set up is a nightmare for the #colourblind 🙄
— Robbie Cowbury (@RCowbury) June 14, 2018
@GaryLineker 8% of men are colour blind including me. Most common colour blindness is green and red. I think I will listen to this match on the radio. When is the 2nd game of the world cup? #wearethe8percent
— Simon Jeremy (@AlfPrufrock) June 14, 2018
Some picked out any possible way to distinguish between the two teams, however small.
At least Russia is wearing white shorts. Should help some right?
— Deric Stokes (@DericTheFirst) June 14, 2018
It's not exactly a niche problem, with CVD affecting approximately one in 12 men (8 percent) and one in 200 women in the world. It's more common in men as it’s carried on the X-chromosome.
Improving the experience of people watching football with CVD isn't a new idea — even coaches and players within the industry deal with it, including Norwegian coach Lars Lagerbäck.
The English Football Association and UEFA teamed up with the UK's Colour Blind Awareness organisation last year to produce a guide booklet as part of a campaign to maximise awareness. Suggestions include avoiding kit clashes, and rethinking use of full red and green uniforms on a green pitch (like the World Cup opener).
"Colour blindness is an important issue in sport — for players, spectators, and investors — from the grass roots through to the highest professional level," reads a statement on the Colour Blind Awareness website.
"It can impact on a person’s performance, spoil the enjoyment of watching sport (live or on TV) and have an adverse effect on revenues if colour blind people turn their back on sport in frustration."
Could be something to consider for the rest of the World Cup?
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